JJ Redick just dropped some updates on the Lakers’ injury situation, and while he’s waving off major worries for Walker Kessler and Ziaire Williams, the numbers from their first three preseason games are screaming about a serious rebounding problem. Kessler, who’s battling a finger injury, isn’t a long-term concern according to Redick. Coach also said Williams has “some soreness” but it’s nothing to panic about, which is a relief for fans eyeing that starting wing spot.
Early Season Lapses on the Glass Are Already Sticking Out
Even with the positive vibes around player health, it’s impossible to ignore what’s happening on the boards. The Lakers have been getting clobbered. They were outrebounded by seven against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, giving up 22 second-chance points in a game they barely scraped by, 114-110. Go back to Tuesday’s 124-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors and they were a minus-nine on rebounds. Even their Monday win against Sacramento saw them lose the board battle by seven. That’s a consistent, three-game trend, and it’s a big red flag, especially since Kessler is supposed to be an elite shot-blocker and rebounder who will make a huge impact on their defense. It makes you wonder how much better they could be defensively once Kessler is back in the lineup and healthy.
Sexton’s Return and Defensive Prowess Offer a Glimmer of Hope
It’s not all doom and gloom though. Redick is confident Collin Sexton will be ready for the regular-season opener on October 21. That’s massive news because Sexton is set to fix one of their biggest weaknesses from last season: bench scoring. He’s also a pace-setter and another ball-handler, which should take a ton of pressure off Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The team has shown some real promise defensively, too. In their win over the Kings, they held Sacramento to just 44.7% shooting overall and a paltry 27.8% from three-point range, forcing a whopping 25 turnovers. They’ve been active on defense, pressing the perimeter, playing at a faster pace offensively, and moving the ball unselfishly. Imagine what they could do when everyone is healthy and contributing. Williams, who had 13 points in 21 minutes on Monday, is another key piece in the mix for those open wing/forward spots.
The Lakers still have two more preseason games to dial things in. They head to Las Vegas to face the Warriors again on Tuesday, October 13, and then host the Denver Nuggets on Friday, October 16. Those games are going to be crucial for figuring out how they address that rebounding issue and integrate their returning players before the season officially kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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